NCAA Women's Basketball Roundup

Tennessee's Cierra Burdick, back, looks to the basket while defended by Rutgers' Rachel Hollivay, left, and Syessence Davis during a women's basketball game Sunday in Knoxville. Tennessee won the game 66-47.

Published December 31. 2012 12:01AM

No. 13 Tennessee 66, Rutgers 47

Tennessee used a strong defensive performance and balanced scoring Sunday to defeat Rutgers.

The victory was the 1,200th in Tennessee's program history, an NCAA best. It was also the ninth consecutive win over Rutgers for the Lady Volunteers (9-3).

Tennessee led by as many as 28 points in the second half after leading 33-13 at halftime.

The Scarlet Knights (8-4) shot 34.6 percent (18 of 52) from the field and just 22.2 percent (6 of 27) in the first half.

Rutgers' 13 first-half points were the fewest Tennessee has allowed in a first half this season. Rutgers missed its first seven shots as the Lady Vols jumped out to an early 8-0 lead.

DeNesha Stallworth also had 21 points for the Wildcats (12-1), who came out sluggish after Friday's 90-23 rout of Alcorn State in which they set a school record for fewest points allowed. Kentucky trailed just twice early on but didn't gain its usual comfortable lead until late in the game.

O'Neill's play on both ends helped wear down Marist. The sophomore guard shot 7 of 11, including 4 of 7 on 3-point attempts, to easily surpass her previous best of 13 points. O'Neill also set career highs with four steals and four 3-pointers.

No. 14 Oklahoma St. 80, San Diego State 72

Toni Young scored 30 points and Liz Donohoe scored 25 to lead Oklahoma State to a win over San Diego State and take the Surf "N Slam Classic title.

Young also had 15 rebounds. Tiffany Bias had 12 points and 13 assists as the Cowgirls (11-0) ran their nation-best winning streak to 17 dating to last season's WNIT championship.

The Aztecs (8-4) last led at 21-18. Donohoe's 3-pointer put Oklahoma State ahead 24-21 and though San Diego State tied it three times after that, the Cowgirls never trailed again.

Donohoe made four free throws in the final minute to keep San Diego State at bay. The Aztecs did not get closer than four points in the half.

Bowling Green 65, No. 15 Dayton 40

Alexis Rogers scored 20 points as Bowling Green handed Dayton its first defeat of the season.

Rogers, a junior forward, has 83 points in her last four games for the Falcons (9-3), who have won six in a row and avenged a 69-38 loss at Dayton last season.

Chrissy Steffen added 16 points and Jillian Halfhill 15 for Bowling Green, and they combined for 12 points during a 19-2 second-half run that gave the Falcons a 55-35 lead with 5:04 left. Steffen, a senior guard, now has 1,007 career points.

The Flyers (12-1) made 1 of 10 shots and turned the ball over six times during that run.

Rogers grabbed 10 rebounds for Bowling Green, which became the first team this season to outrebound Dayton, 43-39.

No. 16 North Carolina 65, Clemson 58

Xylina McDaniel scored 19 points and had six steals as North Carolina used a key 19-2 second-half run to come back and beat Clemson in each team's Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

The Tar Heels (13-1) trailed 43-35 after Chancie Dunn's layup for Clemson. McDaniel responded with a layup with 12:20 left, sparking the 19-2 run that put UNC up 54-45 with 6:23 to play. McDaniel scored eight points during the run, which came amid 15 consecutive missed shots by the Tigers. Clemson (4-8) made just 4 of 21 field goals over the game's final 14 minutes.

Central Michigan led 30-23 at halftime. The Longhorns (7-4) cut the lead to four in the second half, but Central Michigan kept the lead.

Texas shot 44 percent from the field for the game, besting Central Michigan, which shot 35.5 percent. Texas also won the rebound battle 46-32. But Texas made 24 turnovers, almost doubling the amount made by Central Michigan, who made 22 points off those Texas turnovers.

No. 21 Florida State 76, Boston College 70

Alexa Deluzio continued to be a thorn in Boston College's side Sunday, guiding Florida State to its fourth straight victory in each team's Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

Deluzio, who scored a career-high 28 points at BC (6-5) in a 68-59 win last year, tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds Sunday. Natasha Howard also had a double-double for the Seminoles (11-1) with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

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